2023-10-23 17:46:40
Apple drops one of the most prominent political commentators under pressure from China
The technology giant relies on the goodwill of the communist government in Beijing. The sharp-tongued Jon Stewart just gets in his way.
One of the best and most well-known political and media commentators in the country: Jon Stewart.
Photo: Angela Weiss (AFP)
Jon Stewart has found his old form as a tough political commentator. After a successful second season, filming for the next season of the Apple show “The Problem with Jon Stewart” should begin shortly. Ukraine, Israel, artificial intelligence were on the program – and China.
But China is too hot an iron for Apple. Because of artistic differences, as it is said, the company abruptly ended the collaboration. Apple made it clear that they had to take “the same line” when it came to sensitive issues such as China or artificial intelligence.
According to information from the Hollywood Reporter and the New York Times, Stewart wanted to retain full creative control over the series. And following threatening to cancel the series, he told the technology company that he would rather withdraw from the show than be “slowed down” by Apple.
Fear of political shitstorm
The show on Apple’s streaming channel had some start-up problems, but Stewart quickly found his old form once more with sharp-tongued and astute interviews with right-wing extremist politicians including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The show is already nominated for an Emmy Award. The third season seemed assured before Stewart presented a list of planned topics.
Apple was apparently also worried regarding the upcoming election campaign and the country’s extreme polarization, which might clash with the company’s elaborately cultivated apolitical image. Although Apple has so far been able to stay out of political controversy, the prospect of twenty Stewart broadcasts before the election presented potential for conflict. Political controversies have already engulfed Disney, Starbucks and Budweiser in recent months and significantly impacted sales and profits.
“Apple is also vulnerable”
Apple boss Tim Cook cannot afford a setback like Disney. Since Steve Jobs’ death, he has steered the company through all the storms and prevented severe setbacks like those at Meta, Alphabet and Amazon.
But Apple is more dependent on China’s goodwill than any other tech colossus. China contributes almost a fifth of sales and is by far the fastest growing market.
However, the weakening Chinese economy and political tensions with the USA are also beginning to affect Apple. The new iPhone 15, for example, is selling worse in China than the iPhone 14. First, some retailers in China are offering the iPhone below the set price, whereas in the past they were able to charge surcharges.
Added to this is competition from Huawei. The Chinese company doubled its market share in September at the expense of Apple thanks to a high-speed smartphone. Huawei used a super-fast chip, the origin of which the US government wants to investigate in view of an export ban.
Due to state intervention in China, the use of the iPhone has been undesirable since the spring, which is why Apple is now in turbulence that the company has been able to avoid so far. Apple might suffer collateral damage because of tensions between Washington and Beijing, said Han Lin, China manager at consultancy Asia Group. “It’s a clear sign that Apple is also vulnerable.”
Tim Cook on Goodwill tour once more
Apple boss Cook traveled to China for the second time in seven months. He met Economics Minister Wang Wentao, spoke of an “extraordinarily successful trip” and transferred $3.4 million to the Chinese for a rural development project. Foreigners want to use such “donations” to prove their connection to the country and maintain good political relations.
However, the strict Corona lockdown has also changed consumer habits in China. “Chinese consumers have become more sensible,” says a report by market research firm IDC. “They are no longer rushing to be the first to buy an iPhone.”
A series of failures
The end of “The Problem with Jon Stewart” joins a series of failed talk shows on streaming channels. Comedians Sarah Silverman, Norm Macdonald, Chelsea Handler and Joel McHale have already failed with this format. And Netflix gave up all talk shows following several attempts.
Jon Stewart launched his Apple show following a six-year hiatus. Between 1999 and 2015, he turned the “Daily Show” from a little-noticed late-night series into a highly politically relevant medium. Stewart became one of the country’s best and best-known political and media commentators, whose insight will be missed.
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